Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-06-04

WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, May 3oth, 1887.

WASHINGTON, May 3Oth, 1887.
Ere this letter reaches you the
National Drill will be q thing of the
past. The competitive drills closed
on Saturday, but the Encampment
does not break up until this even
ing, and no one but the judges
knows as yet who win bear away
the trophies, except in one instance,
where a private of the San Antonio
Rifles won the first prize given to
individual contestants of the in
fantry drill.
In the gossip of the camp the
prizes have been distributed among
the Toledo Cadets, the Lomax
Rifles, of Mobile, the two San Anton
10 companies, the st. Paul compan-
les, the Muscatine Rifles, of Iowa,
the Louisiana Rifles, the Vicksburg
Southrons, and two Washington
companies. Each has warm par.
tisan admirers, who expect one of the
higher infantry prizes for their
fav0rite organization, and one hears
extolled the merit of this company
and criticism of the performances of
all the others on every hand. Un-
doubtedly there were technical
faults in the maneuvers of the most
accomplished companies which were
not discernable to the public.
Altogether the visiting military
have had a delightful week, and it is
safe to say the Drill has been one of
the most successful ever held in this
country, The cyclone that swept
over the tented city was a little
more than the soldiers or the mana
gers of the Drill had expected, but
the latter say the Drill will not be o
financial failure, although they we're
greatly damaged by the storms.
Yesterday was Sunday, and, ac-
cording to agreement, Rev. T De-
Witt Talmage preached at the Drill
ground from little awning canopied
pavilion in front of the grand stand.
But to my surprise at first, the mill
tary, all except few hundred, were
conspicuous by their absence. Do
not imagine that Mr.. Talmage fell
short of an audience in consequence.
He was greeted by u congregation
Of fifteen thousand strong. About
seven thousand five hundred people
paid a quarter to get inside the en-.
closure and sit or stand anywhere
within sound of his voice, and fully
as many more paid fifty cents for a
chair on the grand stand.
While the sermon was in progress
the soldiers were over at the camp
ground fixing up for the dress par
AIDE which was to take place at its
close. In due time they marched
into the Drill ground to the music
OF their different bands, and during
the whole week a more effective
scene was not witnessed than this
last dress parade. The troops were
massed in battalions across the en-.
tire greensward, aad very skillfully
placed as regarded their vari.colored
uniforms. Many Of the uniforms
were striking, others brilliant and
even gorgeous, and all contrasted
well with the prevailing green of
the parade ground. The Marine
Band of forty men in bright red
coats, white helmets and white
pants furnished the martial music
and marched from one end to the
other of the front while they were
playing as is usual in dress parades.
The Generals and other officers, in
full dress uniforms, stood at their
proper places and altogether the
picture was imposing. When the
ceremonies of the parade were over
and the troops were preparing
to leave the ground, their move.
ments presented brilliant spec
tacle which will long be remembered
by those who witnessed it. Tues.
day was perfect; bayonets flashed
in the sunshine, banners and plumes
waved, bright colors glowed every.
where, and to heighten the effect
OF the scene, one soldier overcome
by the heat, fell fainting on the
ground, and was carried from the
field by comrades.
The war is evidently over at last.
Soldiers from Mississippi and Min
nesota, from Massachusetts and
Texas, walking shoulder to shoulder
in a peaceful capture of Washington
nothing can be more significant of
the fact that the war is over. The
militia in camp under the great
monument had no part in the war.
They belong to generation that
originated. after Fort Sumter was
fired on. Not one in ten of them
were born when the war broke out.
and hardly half of them were born
when it closed. During the years
of reconstruction they were in the
cradle. Now they bear swords and
muskets, wheel in solid platoons.
and form the bone and sinew of the
nations defense. Hostilitics are
buried. The civil war is to them
only an unhappy tradition, and they
emulate each other in their patriotic
devotion to the nations flag. Their
presence on the Potomac is not
ominous, but suspicious, and they
all share the title Of guardians of the
Union.